Everyday Systems

I seriously thought this was going to be easy. Like I normally do when I start a new eating plan, I spent the first day obsessing over the details, except with No S there really aren't many details to obsess over, so I really just wasted a lot of time worrying about it. Because I am a calorie-tracking refugee, No S is so contrary to what I'm used to. Weight loss has been like a hobby for me for the past two years - what am I supposed to do with all this free time?

My willpower lasted until... Day 2. I ate comically large plates of food out of paranoia that I would starve, and then when I was laying in bed I was like, ''Shoot, this isn't going to work,'' and proceeded to embark on the lamest binge ever. I had four chocolates and a nutrition shake and a piece of cheese. I basically ate whatever I could find. I have an eating problem. This program is forcing me to face that in very stark terms.

Weirdly enough, I'm not totally discouraged. I figure with a 50% failure rate I can only improve from here. I seriously underestimated how challenging this would be. My new goal is to get through the month with more Success days than Fail days. If I really am set to do this for life, I guess I have some time to get it right.

In short, this is pretty monumentally different than anything I've done before, and also quite difficult. Any tips for getting through this first month would be most appreciated.

Sincerely,

Christy

It does get easier.

My advice? Find a new hobby, something else you can obsess over. Other than food, what sounds interesting to you?

I have to say a new hobby, something else to be obssessed with is a darn good idea

Another idea is to make NO S your new hobby Start a blog, take pictures of your meals, post what your eating, post comments on how it's going and when it's working and when it's not. Shop for your favorite foods for those 3 meals. Read this forum, post on other people's check-in's, threads and blogs.

Whadda ya think?

Stay busy, both physically and mentally. It keeps your mind off of food.

I agree with all of these suggestions....this journey is definitely worth it.

Also...have you read the book? It's a great resource...

Success to you....janie

I like the idea of keeping busy! I guess I will have to think of some other activity to occupy my mind.

Day 3 was a success! And tomorrow is my first S-day. I know I can do this.

No S is simple, but it is not easy. There's a difference.

It was amazing how much free time I had when I quit grazing all evening. I had time to take up a new hobby (knitting). Of course, since eating was also a mechanism for procrastinating on evening chores, I had to face up to doing them earlier in the evening... which also freed up time.

One good piece of news: since this program is habit-based, it gets easier over time. Really. Unlike diets, which often are started in total enthusiasm and then get harder until they are unbearable. This just becomes "how you eat."

And on the way, you will probably learn a lot about yourself.

At the risk of blowing my own horn, I suggest reading the sticky on "Phases of No-S" above. The first "stage" has all the advice I would give you.

Best wishes.

A therapist said he was in a liquor store one time when a woman who obviously had a problem with alcohol approached him and said, "Why do you drink?" He told her about the fine elements of wine, the social aspect, etc. Then he said to her, "But you're not asking the right question. The question is what would you do if you didn't drink?

What do you do when you're not thinking, planning, worrying, etc.? For some people, it's not necessarily an easy thing to figure out. That's why I think some need to have more life experience before they can implement moderate eating. But it's going to get fun!

determined wrote: Also...have you read the book? It's a great resource...

Success to you....janie

I plowed through the entire book yesterday and this morning and I agree it's wonderful. The rationale behind each rule really makes a lot of sense.

Thanks for the support guys!

Welcome!

In time of need, I once read the book repeatedly on a loop.

Going for a walk can help with cravings. There is a lot of excellent advice on the bulletin boards, and Reinhard's podcasts are great:

http://everydaysystems.com/podcast/